study of imc-a12, alone or in combination with cetuximab, in participants with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (mscc) of the head and neck

Conditions: Head and Neck Cancer

Summary: the purpose of this study is to determine if imc-a12 alone or in combination with cetuximab (erbitux®) can increase the time prior to disease progression in participants with squamous cell head and neck cancer who have had disease progression and platinum-containing chemotherapeutic regimen.

the routine cancer treatments for squamous cell carcinoma head and neck cancer have improved but still leave a percentage of participants with incurable disease. new alternatives for participants whose disease is refractory to existing therapies is needed. imc-a12 is a monoclonal antibody which binds to special receptors known as insulin-like growth factor-i receptor (igf-ir). this binding action has been shown to inhibit the growth of a variety of human tumor cell lines. the purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of imc-a12 by itself or with cetuximab (erbitux®) in participants with squamous cell carcinoma head and neck cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, and to determine how long the drug remains in the body. the study will also look at what side effects imc-a12 may cause when a participant is receiving treatment.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * histologically or cytologically-confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, or oral cavity, metastasis or recurrence documented by clinical imaging studies * measurable disease, lesion size ≥ 2 centimeters (cm) on conventional measurement techniques or ≥ 1 cm on spiral computed tomography (ct) scan * clinical documentation of disease progression during treatment with or within 90 days after receiving the last cycle of platinum-based chemotherapy (with or without radiation therapy) * if prior treatment with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (egfr) therapy, the time to recurrence from last exposure to anti-egfr therapy is \> 90 days * adequate hematologic function * adequate hepatic function * adequate coagulation function or is on a stable dose of an anticoagulant. * adequate renal function * fasting serum glucose \<120 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) or below the upper limit of normal (uln) * women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation exclusion criteria: * not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier. neurotoxicity, must have recovered to grade ≤ 2 * is receiving any other investigational agent(s) * history of treatment with other agents targeting the insulin-like growth factor receptor (igfr) * is receiving concurrent treatment with other anticancer therapy, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiotherapy, chemoembolization, or targeted therapy * history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of chemical or biologic composition similar to those of cetuximab or imc-a12 * has poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. participants with a history of diabetes mellitus are allowed to participate, provided that their blood glucose is within normal range (fasting \< 120 mg/dl or below uln) and that they are on a stable dietary or therapeutic regimen for this condition * pregnant or breastfeeding * is receiving therapy with immunosuppressive agents

Keywords: squamous cell carcinoma in head and neck prior platinum-based chemotherapy cetuximab erbitux imc-a12